Schools that take a tough stance against schoolyard bullying are beginning to realize how things are changing in the 21st century. Today's bullies are turning more to technology--and cyberspace--for the purpose of tormenting their victims. To some extent, it is classic bullying--but it is also bullying that takes place in a new medium that expands…

Research (Goodman, Fulbright, & Zimmerman, 1997; IEL, 2001) supports that the most critical decision a school board has to make is its selection and appointment of a superintendent to lead the district toward its mission of effective schooling for all students. Given that board members hold influential power in this regard, what competencies…

As the chief elected officials of their cities, mayors have a rightful role in promoting the interests of public school students and parents who live there, as well as the interests of taxpayers who help fund the school district. Without a strong education system, mayors will find it more difficult to recruit new businesses, strengthen economic…

This document reports the findings of a project designed to identify and evaluate strategies employed by school administrators in dealing with conflicts arising from the diverse and opposing values held by different groups within a community. A city school district (identified as "Grandview"), which had been involved in a conflict situation caused…

Intended for use as a workbook, this publication is designed to provide examples of the respective roles of the school board and the superintendent in the operation and management of a school district. The first section (white pages) provides statements, in parallel columns, describing possible board/superintendent roles under the following…

A questionnaire completed by 251 school board members from across Texas revealed wide disagreement over the role of the school superintendent. Respondents identified the sizes of their districts, their educational attainment levels, and their lengths of tenure, then indicated whether responsibility for each of 29 tasks in 4 broad areas should rest…

The document is part of a series that reports the findings and accomplishments of the Models for Career Education in Iowa project which was initiated to research, define, and describe an emerging concept of career education. It discusses administrator roles in implementing career education concepts in the school curriculum through a definition of…

The authors describe the systematic recruitment and selection procedures in the appointment of a Director of Education for Dufferin County, Ontario. The approach centers on the use of professional consultants to assist the Board in reaching a decision, providing a list of candidates to consider and detailed information of a reasonably objective…

School administrators should develop a set of written policies and procedures to handle in-school medical emergencies until such time as a nurse or physician can be contacted or physically present. If medications are to be given during school hours, the school board should provide a clearly defined policy in this area. (MM)

The study of 228 Maine principals measures actual and preferred roles of school principals during teacher-board contract negotiations, compares elementary and secondary data, and draws conclusions related to five role types (principals as administration representatives, as separate bargaining units, as part of teachers' organizations, as…

A school district's board of education is a governing body that has the responsibility of creating vision and direction, setting policy, providing resources, and monitoring the results of student achievement initiatives for its district. The board and superintendent must work together as a leadership team for the district, modeling to the staff…

Teacher absenteeism is a serious problem symptomized by lack of board and superintendent leadership, incomplete attendance records and policies, job dissatisfaction, and failure to recognize the problem or reward good attendance. The author outlines eight solutions that match each symptom and five false beliefs about teacher absenteeism. (RW)

Seeks to define the legal rights of teachers to protect themselves from criticism of their professional behavior and provides some general guidelines. (Author/WD)

Describes efforts by the Michigan State Board of Education to implement a Six Step Accountability Model as a method for developing goals for public education. (RK)

Offers several recommendations to board of education on involving the incumbent superintendent in the search for a new superintendent. (PKP)